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“Okay. Just listen to me then,” he gives in. “I’ve never been so scared in my life than when I couldn’t find you at the house. I knew in my gut that something was wrong and I was right. You were gone and I—” he clears his throat and chokes back his emotion, “I was dying inside, Blythe. I knew right then and there that if I ever got you back, I’d never let you go.”
A tear slips out of the inner corner of my eye and works its way down my face, trailing over my smile.
He leans down and kisses me like I might break. So I bring a hand up to cup his cheek and pull him in closer. The fact that we’re both safe and in each other’s arms right now is sweeter than relief. It’shappiness, which seems like such a simple word. But now that I’m feeling it in its truest form, it’s anything but that. It’s everything.
Gage’s touch is delicate and careful, but he grips either side of my face with such surety, that it’s more comforting than anything I’ve ever felt. I pull away slightly to check him over for any injuries, but he proceeds to plant soft peppered kisses all over my face. It sends me into a fit of giggles, and I clutch the front of his shirt to keep him close.
“Tell me you meant it when you said we were together,” he whispers. “I’ve never felt like jumping for joy before,” he laughs, “but I came real close to doing it when I heard those words come out of your mouth.”
My fingertips trace the line of his jaw. “I meant it,” I say.
He huffs out a breath and the corner of his mouth turns up in a satisfied grin. My heart feels like it’s in my throat just seeing how happy it makes him that I wasn’t just throwing out those words in the heat of the moment.
“I have no business staking my claim on a girl like you. You’d fall back asleep if I started listing all the ways that you amaze me,” he chuckles but hardens his expression a moment later. “I know we haven’t known each other for very long, but I can’t bring myself to waste time pretending like there’s any doubt in my mind that you’re mine.”
Those words sound so right rolling off of his lips. I smile up at him until I hear the vibrating of my phone coming from the side table.
Gage reaches for it and hands it to me. Keanna’s name and a picture of us at our favorite restaurant light up the screen.
“Hey,” I say as I answer her call, voice slightly hoarse.
“You’re awake! I just landed, I’m coming to the hospital right fucking now. I left as soon as Warren told me what happened. Are you feeling alright? I mean, all things considered?”
“Take a breath and calm down, Kee. I’m perfectly fine, just a few bumps and bruises. Nothing serious, I promise.”
She sniffles and blows out a harsh breath. “Don’t scare me like that again. I’m going to kill Gage.”
“It wasn’t his fault, Kee.”
Gage cocks a brow as he listens in on the conversation.
“We have so much to talk about,” she says.
I lift my gaze to take over the handsome man next to me.
“Yes. We do,” I agree and smile.
* * *
“It’s hot as balls in here,” Warren complains as he hangs his hat by the door and walks through the main living area of the bunkhouse.
I’m on the couch surrounded by one too many pillows that Gage insisted I needed. He carried me to this spot after washing my hair in the shower and demanding I not move. If it wasn’t for the Christmas Eve party, I’d probably still be in bed on his orders.
“I wanted to keep the fire going. Make sure it was comfortable in here,” Gage says. He runs a hand through his damp hair and kisses me on the cheek.
I whip the blanket off of my body and sit straight up. “For the love of biscuits and gravy, I am not on my deathbed,” I laugh. I stand and touch Gage on the shoulder. “I amfine. Even the doctor said I am good to go as long as I change my bandage every day and get some rest. I’ve done both of those things, and I enjoy you spoiling me, but can I help with the side dishes or something? I’m bored just laying around!”
Gage wraps his arms around my legs and pulls me to him. I’m standing in front of him while he sits on the edge of the couch. He looks up at me and I don’t miss the lingering concern in his expression. My hands run through the stubble on the side of his face, and then the hair behind his ears. I’ve found that kissing him is the best distraction from his overprotective tendencies, so I plant one right on his lips. Per his usual reaction, he groans and his hands move from my thighs to my ass.
“I get you’re her boyfriend now, but can you not?” Warren cringes.
Gage laughs and gives me one loud slap on the ass, then stands to grab my hand and lead me into the kitchen where everyone else is cooking for the party. His grip is tighter than your average handhold. And he checks on me out of the corner of his eye every ten seconds.
He’s worried that this has all been too much for me, and that I’ll bolt at any second. But I’m not afraid. He can worry all he wants about keeping me safe, I’m not going anywhere. Metaphorically speaking, anyway. Iamgoing somewhere.
Fate may have brought me here and introduced me to this amazing man, but I’m not about to up and quit my entire career to be with him. It’s a sore subject between my head and my heart at the moment.
“Ta-da!” Kee sing-songs from her spot next to the Christmas tree. Her arms are held out wide, and she wears a proud grin. I smile and clap, pulling out my phone to take a picture. Sending Heston to the store for the largest tree they had in stock and an enormous amount of lights and ornaments was the most brilliant idea she’d ever had. It’s gorgeous.
